Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-05

at all-except once, with SNOWFALL.
remember that. because it damaged new
hat had. II thought about her at al |
dare say thought she was healthy little
tomboy who would have a laundering
good appetite and give lot of trouble to
whoever was teaching her the piano and
plain needlework."
II wish you wouldn't chaff, Bill. I'm
in earnest"
$50 am I. I'm not a poet. and don't
begin specializing about Whist horse power
of love may be boxed NJ inside OF every
school girl of fourteen meet on the road. )"
"Well, you're to meet her tonight at
the Mayhews'. Miss Mayhem told me she
was expecting her. She was at school
with one OF them, think. So you can re-
new your acquaintance.
Don't want to-" said Bill. mot if
she's got to be intense and passionate and
all those other games you were talking of.
! want a girl that'll dance and eat supper.
Here we are," said John Anthony, as
the cab stopped. ''Now for it. Come
along"
As they went up stairs the strains of a
waltz sounded in the air land stray couples
were wandering into the ballroom from
stairs and conservatory. Bill Rafter. who
was enthusiastic about all manner of ath-
letic sports made haste to greet the hostess
and seek a partner. He was soon whirling
round over the polished floor. and John
Anthony was lett free to search for his lady
love- She was not dancing. MANY iair
faces fitted by him as he stood in the
doorway of the ballroom. but hers was not
among them. He tried the conservatory {;
she was not there. Idly and without ex-
pectation of finding her he glanced into a
room where many portly dowagers were
gathered in gossiping conclave-and found
her. She was sitting apart from the ma
tronlv senate, her small person nestled up
in big easy chair. She was not lis
tening to them. Her blue eyes were
steadfastly fixed on china plate that
hung on the wall opposite to her. and
her little pale pretty face-paler and more
childish for the OvershadOwing OF the coils
of auburn hair that were drawn up high
on her head, in grown.up fashion-wore
look of pensve seriousness. There was
something very touching in the listless-
ness Of her attitude. in her melancholy
isolation. She seemed poor lonely little
wait, strayed by adverse fate into compan-
ionship uncongenial. unsympathetic. The
poets heart warmed to her with an honest
pity. He was good fellow at bottom,
though the surface conceit OF him made the
interior strata of kindliness hard to come
at. lie went over to her
"Miss Norbury," he said.
She said nothing. but held out her hand
to him with a smile that said palmer than
words she was glad he had come.
"You are looking rather stupid "
81 know. am stupid, rather" she
said submissively.
II mean. of course, bored, you know.
Tired
"Well, I am bored good deal. At
least-I was" With morsel Of sudden
glance.
lie drew chair BY her and sat down.
II could guess what you were thinking
of when | came in. Not of that plate you
were looking at
mo. Not of that plate.'
about these old women, wasn't it %
said he, duplicating somewhat irrevently
the respectable matrons in his vicinity
The eternal fiddle taddle they keep up
about their servants and bonnets and
children? About how tiresome it must be
to have grown old and fat. and to have
lost all SAVIOR of life save what may be in
such trivialities?''
Yes. Partly that" she said. with a
curious little grimace, that was half sor-
rowful and half laughing. Partly Of
other things"
Tell me, will you? What things ?''
NO. couldn't exsctly tell you. But
I at ,n l.
heap of things-about Law"
about Lawp" he said, smiling.
Eyes. About Law" she said it EN-.
phatically, hating little before it. and
and letting it slip ont between her pursed-
up lips with a childish impressiveness
About deeds, and wills. and parchment,
and entails. And about mysterious boxes
with old papers Shut up in them that set
lie how great estates are to 90. And about
wigs--why barristers wear them, and Why
they don't?"
lie laughed. as that all p he said.
ooh, no. But that will do to begin with.
You can GO on then to tell me how YOU
work in your Offices, and whether the
the Giants have to sit down outside Il par.
tition, and the clerks look over it and
make lun OF them, as thep did to Mr..
PlckNick. And a lot of things"
The poet was not quite sure whether
she was making fun OF him or not. There
was winning earncstness in her fashion
OF speech and an almost pathetic serious
ness in the blue eyes lhat met his so calm
lv. But he had seen her act, and had
noticed IA similar intense gravity undel
the most ludcrous circumstances.
Are you in earnest, really ?" he asked
| &c be continued.